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News Release

Media Contact:
Christina Chavira
Communications Specialist
530.332.5589 - office
christina.chavira@enloe.org              

Enloe Medical Center encourages colon and prostate screenings,
early detection of cancer

CHICO, Calif., March 30, 2010 – In support of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Enloe Medical Center launched a colonoscopy outreach program together Stephen Pearce, MD, Joseph Matthews, MD, and Richard Zak, MD. This campaign was created to help individuals between the ages of 50 and 65 whose lack of insurance or funds has kept them from having a colonoscopy. Enloe is providing interested community members with a specialized financial counselor to assist them in finding insurance or creating payment plans that can enable them to have this critical screening. As part of this campaign Enloe also posted an educational video online and scheduled a free educational evening lecture about colorectal health, on March 30. Additionally, online education is also newly available.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers for both men and women in the United States. If caught early, it is curable 90 percent of the time.

To meet with the financial counselor, the first step is to complete an application available online or by calling 332-7016. This outreach program will be available for 60 days.

To increase awareness about colorectal health, Enloe will host a free evening Health & Wellness lecture, Envision a Community Without Colorectal Cancer, from 7 to 8 p.m., March 30, at the Enloe Conference Center, 1528 Esplanade. It will be led by General and Colorectal Surgeon Joseph Matthews, MD, who will discuss colon health and colon cancer prevention and treatment.

Enloe is also making a multimedia effort to educate the community about colon cancer and prostate cancer to emphasize the importance of screenings and that early detection can help save lives. There are two videos online at www.enloe.org/cancer, located in the right navigation bar. Local Gastroenterologist Stephen Pearce, MD, and Urologist Mark Fritzler, MD, answer common questions about colon and prostate cancer, such as:

• How common is colon cancer?

• Does screening really make a difference?

• How does a prostate screening work?

• What are treatment options and their success rates?

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Drs. Pearce, Matthews, Zak and Fritzler are independent licensed practitioners who are members of Enloe's Medical Staff and not employed by the medical center.

Enloe Medical Center is a local, nonprofit health care organization. For more information, please call 530/332-7300 or visit us online at http://www.enloe.org.   Enloe Medical Center is located at 1531 Esplanade Chico, Calif.  95926.